Briefs

State

A 3-year-old Norwich boy was released from Connecticut Children's Medical Center Sunday, two days after he was struck by a car as he crossed a street, a hospital spokeswoman said.

FOR THE RECORD - Correction published May 12, 1998.* A 3-year-old Norwich boy remained in serious condition Monday at Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, recovering from injuries he received when he was hit by a car Friday afternoon. Steven P. Ferron was not released from the hospital, as was reported on Page B7 of Monday's Courant.

Steven P. Ferron was listed in critical condition after the accident on Crouch Avenue in Norwich Friday afternoon. He was flown by Life Star helicopter to Hartford Hospital, and transferred that evening to the pediatric intensive care unit at the children's medical center.

Ferron was struck by a car driven by Sonia Uy, 49, as he crossed the residential dead-end street about 4 p.m. Friday, police said.

No charges had been filed Sunday. The incident was under investigation.

Inmate Claims

He Was Abused

SUFFIELD --State police on Friday began investigating an inmate's allegations of abuse at MacDougall Correctional Institution.

Prison officials would say little about the April 26 incident, but announced Friday that two lieutenants have been placed on administrative leave with pay, and a correction officer has been reassigned within the institutionpending the results of the state police investigation.

The inmate has also been transferred within the prison. MacDougall officials would not provide specific details on the incident or say whether the inmate had been injured. A MacDougall staff member, who asked not to be identified, has said that the inmate alleged that he was handcuffed and threatened with a noose during questioning about drugs coming into the prison.

The incident may be related to race, according to Sylvia Flickinger, a prison spokeswoman. The inmate is black while the three correction employees are white, she said.

Prison officials are withholding the names of all involved while the investigation is conducted.

Man Held On

Fugitive Charge

PUTNAM --A 33-year-old man from Fort Meyers, Fla., was arrested by state police over the weekend in connection with a fatal hit-and-run accident in Cape Coral, Fla.

Joseph Anthony Gonsalvas was charged as a fugitive from justice and faces a charge in Florida of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. He was being held at the Troop D barracks Sunday night in lieu of $250,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Danielson today.

Gonsalvas is accused of leaving the scene of an accident Jan. 9 that killed J.R. and Ruth Brown, who were riding their bicycles.

Cape Coral police say they believe Gonsalvas left Florida shortly after the accident and traveled to Putnam, where his sister and brother-in-law live. Gonsalvas apparently told his brother-in-law that he was the driver of the 1983 Chevrolet pickup that hit the Browns, according to a press release.

Gonsalvas was arrested about 10 p.m. Friday while riding as a passenger in his brother-in-law's car, police said.

Additional charges against Gonsalvas and anyone who helped him are pending, Cape Coral police said.

In Search

Of Lifeguards

NEW HAVEN-- As more people dig out their swimsuits in preparation for a relaxing day at the beach, state environmental officials are diving into efforts to recruit lifeguards from colleges and high schools.

Lifeguards are especially needed at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme and Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, the state's largest beach, said Bill Mattioli, water safety coordinator for the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The DEP is visiting Fairfield University, Southern Connecticut State University and the University of Bridgeport, along with high schools across the state, to recruit applicants.

Mattioli said he expected there would be enough lifeguards to open the season in a few weeks. Although, he added, ``it's always nice to have extra.''

Vicki Duffy, director of parks and recreation for Old Saybrook, said it was difficult for public lifeguard positions to compete with private jobs, which pay more.

``The problem is that the certification courses are expensive, and the state and towns are not paying enough for people to be lifeguards,'' she said.

The general manager at Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club in Branford said lifeguards at his club earn between $7 and $8 an hour. At municipal parks and recreation centers, pay generally starts between $6.25 and $6.50 an hour while state beaches start new lifeguards at $6.50 an hour.